Single trigger for fbrearwis



PATENTED FEB. 9,-1904.

E. I). FULFORD, SINGLE TRIGGER FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11, 1901.

2 SHEBTS SHEBT 1.

H0 HODBL.

9 f m 7 mm 2% 144 1 a ar a e a 5 .Zvezziar: 1 $57 5 2//5A{5 PATENTEDFEB. 9, 1904.

E. D. FULPORD. SINGLE TRIGGER FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FI LED 13110.11, 1901.

2 SHEETS-$131131 2.

N0 MODEL.

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m WW UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

PATENT OTETEE.

FULFORD, OF UTI CA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. H. WEBSTER ANDPAUL NORTH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SINGLE TRIGGER FOR FmEARMs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,979, dated February9, 1904.

Application filed December 11, 1901. Serial No. 85,420. *.No model.)

Toull whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, ELIJAH D. FULFORD, of

Utica,in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Single Triggers for Firearms; andI do hereby declare that the following-is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the'art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to'theacccompanying drawings, and to the characters of referencemarked thereon, which form part of nection with the adjacent portions ofthe firearm and as applied to what is known as a do hie-barrel shotgunwith the stock remcv ed. Fig. 2 shows a'vertical longitudinal section ofportions of the mechanism. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of theresetting and locking lever in connection with its supports and portions of the operating mechanism. Fig, 4

shows in section details of a catch employed in the construction. Fig. 5shows aplan view, Fig. 6 aside elevatiomand Fig. 7 an end elevation, ofa shifting mechanism for adapting the single trigger to operate first'iipon one firing mechanism and then the other, or vice versa. 8 showsin plan view, on an enlarged scale, the sears in their relativepositions and the operative portion of the shifting-catch mechanism,whereby the order of the firing may-be reversed. Fig. 9 shows a rear endview of the major. portion of the trigger mechanism in connection withsections of the trigger-plate and the thrust-rod'or operating-bar.

1 Referring toithe reference letters and figures in a more particulardescription, A mdicates the usual frame of what is known as a breakdownbreech loading double-barrel shotgun, to the forward end of which frameA are pivoted in the usual manner the barrels B.

The frame is provided with the upper tang 1 and has secured in its underside what is known as the trigger-plate 2, which in practice amounts toanother tang to the frame. The

arm is provided with the usual top lever 3,

which, among other things, operates the lockbolt 4, that locks thebarrels in closed position on the frame. This top lever is operated toits closed position by the usual spring 5. The hammers, which are notshown, but are of the usual inclosed form, are within the recesses 6 6in either side of the frame and are pivoted on pivots, the end of whichis shown and is indicated by 7. With the hammers are adapted to engagein the usual manner the forward ends of the sears 8, which sears arepivoted on a pin 49, passing transversely through the frame. The rearends of the sears 8 are provided with inwardly-turned ends, as shown.

A trigger which consists of the finger portion 9 and plate -like portion9 passing through a slot in the trigger-plate and the body T internalportion 9, is pivoted at 10 to a standard or post 11, secured on thetriggerplate. A spring is provided secured on the trigger-plate andengaging on a shoulder in the part 9 for forcing the trigger downwardly. The body portion 9 of the trigger is formed cylindrical in partand at, its forward end is secured in the pivot-piece 12, which pieceincludes a sleeve-like portion 12. On the body or internal portion ofthe trigger is provided a slide or reciprocating trigger part 14, whichin the main consists of two connected side plates and which trigger parthas a hearing at a on the part 9 and at b on the sleeve 12". The bearinga is formed in a crosswall in the part 14, and between this crosswalland the head of the pivot-piece 12 is interposed a spring 15, adapted tomove the part 14 toward the rear or away from the pivot 10. The part 14may be made somewhat bulky, whereby it has considerable weight in and ofitself. The movable trigger part 14 carries a set of catch-shoulders 16,16", 17-, and 17", which are formed in or on the projecting ends of thetransverse pins 16 and 17 passing through the part 14. The pins 16 and17 are capable of sliding lengthwise through the part 1i and areconnected by a rocker 18, mounted on a pivot 19, and the arrangement issuch that when the end of one of the pins-say 16-- projects on one sideof the part is the end of the other pin, as 17 will project on theopposite side, all as clearly appears from Fig. 8 of the drawings. Theprojecting ends of the pins 16and 17 are adapted to alternately engagewith one or the other of the scars 8. In the rear end of the movabletrigger part 14 there is provided. a catch-pin 20 which is capable of alimited movement into the socket 0, which receivesit, as shown in Fig.Land is held or pressed down by the spring 521 in said socket. The saidcatchpin 20 is adapted to engage on a shoulder, which, as shown, is ahole 0 in the trigger-plate 2, and secures the movable trigger part 14:in its forward position; 'lio the rear of the hole a there may beprovided an incline d, on which the end of the pin 20 is adapted'toengage and which will cause the pin to be forced up against the tensionof the spring 21 when the part 14: is'moved forward.

The combined resetting and satiety-lock le ver 25 is pivoted at 25 in aprojection or support 27, secured to the trigger-plate 2 at the rear ofthe trigger-slot. To the lever 25 is attached a reciprocating bar orthrust-rod 26, the forward end of which is arranged to engage with thelocking-bolt i, heretofore mentioned. For resetting the movable triggerpart 14 the lower end of the lever 25 engages with the rear end of thepart 14 and to this end is provided with a sidewise-projecting part 25,which, as shown, is only provided on one side of the lever 25, but mayequally well be provided. onboth sides. This projec tion 25 prevents thelower end of the lever from entering the slot between the rear parts ofthe trigger part 14. To act as a safety lock, the lower end of the lever25 is adaptedto engage on a shoulder a on the trigger, ilrlountedo'n thetang of the frame there is provided a sliding thumb-piece 30, which hasprojections engaging with the upper end of the lever 25, whereby thesame may be operated. 31 is a spring for holding the thumbpiece in itsforward or rear position against accidental movement and when notforcibly moved. Upon the rear end of the movable trigger-piece let thereis also provided an upwardly-projecting tooth 32, which is adapted whenin its upper position to engage with one or the other ofthe teeth 33 onthe under side of the thrust-bar 26.

As a means for adjusting the sear-catches jthere. provided on thetrigger-plate 2, by

means of screwsor headed pins 35 36, passing through longitudinal slotstherein,- a trans versely-sliding shifter 37; For operating this shifterthere is provided therein an inclined slot 38, which'receives the innerend of a pin 39, passing through the longitudinal slot 40 in thetrigger-plate, and provided on its outer vsneve end with a thumhpiece1-1.. The shifteris provided with upWardiy-projecting shoulders 3!" 37",adapted to engage'with the ends of the pin 17, and these shoulders arerearward in a spreading manner, as shown for purposes which willhereinafter appear, In order tdmaintain the pins 16 and 1.7 in one orthe other of their two shifted positions, there is provided in therocker'lffi 'a pair of inden tations adapted to receive the inner endsof the snap-pin This pin pressed toward the rocker 18 i the spring 46.

As shown in iliig. 1., the n'iochanism is set ready for firing and, asshown, "for-r ring the left-hand barrel first and the right-handbarcarried rel subsequently TWh'eri the trigger is operated in the usualmanner, thercar end swings up, turning about the pivot 10. in thisoperation the pro ecting end of the pin 16 en- With the left-hand scar,throwing up the rear end and releasing the hammer in 1 the usual manner.As the rigger rises the pin 20 is drawn out from the hole in thetrig- Iger-plate, releasing the movable trigger part 1 1-, winch is thenimpelled toward the rear by the spring 15. It is, however, baited by theprojection 32 engaging with one of the pro- 'ections 33. .With therecoil of the un the trigger is involuntarily released more or less bythe operator and immediately following the recoil is involuntarilypulled or operated. Upon releasing the trigger immediately following'itsoperation upon the recoil taking place the recoil also acts upon themovable trigger part H, or, more properly stated; the

trigger part let by own in: rtia tends to maintain the same positionwhile the recoil of the gun carries the other parts of the triggermechanism to the rear. catches are held out of engagement with the searsat and during the-recoil, and it takes.

Thus the searsome timefollowing the recoil before the trig; ger part 14is moved to its rearinostposition i by its spring 15, where-theprojecting end'of. the pin 17 is in position to engage w ith the sear ofthe firing mechanism which has not been operated; Duringthis intervaltho'involuntary pull, if vany, has taken place and without any effect;

In order that this action I may besecured' in its best and most perfectiicie'nt to produce an; involuntary pull or when there is norec'oilwhatever the movable part 1 l4 simply moves back, impelled by-spring15., i

to its rearinost position, Where'it'isprepared to operate the firingmechanism of the second barrel.

the gun and reload the same:

' the lever 3'the locking-bar 4; is moved back- Aftorthe arm has beentired it n'ecessary to operate the top lever 3 to breakdown in operatingward and engaging with the thrust-bar 26 swings the lever from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2; Thismoves the part l i'to its forward position, where it is retained by thecatch-pin 20, entering tile .hole 0; After being reset, as described,the construction, as shown, will remain with the lever 25, looking thetrigger against movement. The operatormay release the safety-lock byforcing forward the thumbpiece 30. I contemplate also dispensingwith thesafety feature, in which case the forward end of the thrust-bar 26 wouldbe attached to or connected with the boltt, which would cause the lever95 to recover the position shown in Fig.v 1 after having reset the partit.

The shifter 37 is so arranged on the triggerplate that when the part l-tis in its forward position the pin 17 will lie directly between theshoulders 37 and 37 of the shifter. When in position, the pin 17 may beshifted through either side of the part 1 1 by operating the thumb-piecei1. When the pin 17 is operated in one direction, the pin 16 is operatedin the other direction, so that there is always one sear-catchprojecting on the opposite sides of the part 14c. By this arrangement itwill be observed that either barrel may be fired first. In case theshifter 37 is operated when the movable trigger part is in its rearposition when it is moved forward the end of the pin 17 will engage withthe inclined portion of one or the other of the inclined shoulders 37 or37 and be forced through the part l t without damage to the parts. Thesnap-pin 45 engages in the indentations in the rocker 18 and preventsaccidental movement of the pins 16 and 17.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. The combination in asingle-trigger mechanism of the trigger andsears, amovable trigger part mounted on the trigger and movable towardthe rear having catches for alternately engaging the sears, a spring formoving the said trigger part toward the rear, the spring and weight ofsaid movable trigger part being arranged or adjusted to utilize theinertia, and a catch for securing said trigger part in its forwardposition, substantially as set forth.

2. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of two sears and atrigger, a trigger part mounted on the trigger, movable from the fronttoward the rear having catch-shoulders for alternately engaging saidsears, a E spring for moving said trigger part toward 2 the rear, acatch for securing said trigger pa 1n its forward position when thetrigger is in its normal or not-pulled position, a stop-shoulder forstopping the rearward movement of i said trigger part-when the triggeris in its i pulled or up position and means for resetting said movabletrigger part, substantially as set forth.

3. In a single-trigger mechanism, the combination of the trigger andsears of a rearwardly-movable trigger part weighted to utilize theinertia and having catch-shoulders for alternately engaging said sears,a catch for securing said trigger part in its primary or startingposition when the trigger is unoperated, a spring for moving the saidtrigger part toward the rear when released, and adjusted to be affectedby the inertia thereof and means for limiting the rearward morement ofsaid trigger part with the second shoulder in position to engage Withthe sear, substantially as set forth,

4 The combination in a -single-trigger mechanism of the sears andtrigger, catches for alternately engaging the sears mounted on arearwardly-niovable part, a catch arranged to secure saidrearwardly-movable part in its forward position with one of said catchprojections in position to engage the sear, said catch being releasableupon the manipulation of the trigger, a spring for impelling saidmovable part toward the rear when released and adjusted to be effectedby the inertia and recoil, and means for resetting said movable part,substantially as set forth.

5, In a single-trigger mechanism for firearms, the combination of thetrigger and sears, a trigger part mounted on the trigger movablelengthwise of the arm, transversely-movable catch-pins mounted in saidmovable trigger part having catch-shoulders to engage the sears upontheir ends, and mechanism connecting and for shifting said catch-pinswhereby the ends are alternately presented at opposite sides of themovable trigger part, substantially as set forth.

6. In a single-trigger mechanism for firearms, the combination of thetrigger, a trigger part mounted on the trigger and movable lengthwise ofthe firearm, a pin transversely movable through said movable triggerpart having a catch-shoulder on its ends adapted to engage one or theother of the sears and means for shifting the position of said catchpin,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a single-triggermechanism of the sears andtrigger, catches for alternately engaging the sears mounted on andrearwardly movable on the trigger, a-catch arranged to secure saidrearwardly-movable part in its forward position with one of saidsear-catches in position to engage one of the sears, the said catchbeing releasable upon the i the rear having sear-catches for alternatelyengaging the sears, a spring for moving the said trigger toward therear, tensioned and proportioned with reference to the Weight of themovable trigger part to utilize the inertia,

as set forth, and a catch for securing said trigger part in its forwardposition, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination in a single-trigger mechariism of the trigger andsears, a catch for engaging the first-operated sear, a trigger part ofthe movable trigger part to utilize the inertia of the part to retardthe movement substantially as setforth, a catch for securing saidtrigger vpart in its forward position and mechanism for resetting thesame, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have afi'ixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 30th day of November, 1901.

ELIJAH D. FULFORD.

, Witnesses: v

E. WILLARD J ones, S. A..BROWN.

